Slide fastener



Oct 15, 1962 TADAO YosHlDA 3,058,188

SLIDE FASTENER Filed June 16, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR Tadao Ybsl'da,

ATTORNEYS Oct 16, 1962 TADAo YosHlDA 3,058,188

SLIDE FASTENER Filed June 16, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheei'l 2 /a /550/ ,uw /O 5 zo/ 20m /pg INVENTOR Tadeo Yasz'da ATTORNEYS Oct. 16, 1962 TADAO YosHlDA 3,058,188

SLIDE FASTENER Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 16, 1960 l swf BYZ/Mf/WfM ATTORNEYS Unite States The invention relates to a slide fastener and to a method for its manufacture. The invention is in a new way of manufacturing slide fasteners and a new structure of fastener elements, and particularly a new way of fixing the elements onto the fabric material of the tape.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 775,585, tiled November 21, 1958, now abandoned.

In making a slide fastener having spiral coiled fastener elements, the method hitherto used has been, first, to form a tape and then fasten one side of a coiled element to the edge of said tape with a material such as thread, and then cover the front and rear sides of the slide fastener where the coiled elements and tape contact each other with a supporting core tape and then sew the core tape to the support tape with a thread. In other words, the tape and the coiled element and supporting core tape were all sewed together, yet the steps of sewing -the elements to said tape were all carried out separately. As a consequence, there resulted only three-fold trouble and greater labor char-ges without a corresponding increase in eifr- The method of carrying out the two steps at one time, that is, fixing the coiled element to a tape and sewing the aforo-mentioned supporting core tape thereto in a single step, or the method of fastening the coiled element to the supporting core tape with a twisted thread in one step, or the method of interlacing the element to the supporting core tape when forming the supporting core tape and sewing them onto the base tape simultaneously have all been recently introduced, `but such methods in their practical application have been unable to avoid unevenness in the pitch of the coiled element and also, since the spacing of the coils in the fastener element is limited by the thickness of the needle, the size of a fastener naturally must be relatively large, and furthermore, since it is necessary for the assembly to undergo such steps as passing through a coiling machine to set the coil and supporting core tape together, or passing through a tape-sewing machine which is very diflicult to handle, to even the pitch, the manufacture and management are so complicated that such methods and processes have not given satisfactory results.

The purpose of this invention, therefore, is to eliminate the foregoing complicated processes and the defects thereof.

The object of the invention is to use the fastener element in lieu of the warp that forms a selvage at one edge of the tape, and to cover the front and rear sides of the slide fastener where the element and tape contact each other with a core tape which becomes the part on which the slider slides and to fasten the element to the edge of the tape all in one process to form a finished tape.

Another object of the invention is to make use of the fastener element in lieu of `the warp that forms a selvage of one edge of the tape, and to cover thefront and rear sides of the slide fastener where the element and tape contact each other with a core tape which becomes the part on which the slider slides, fastening said core tape with a thick warp of a material with a strength which is equal to that of the core tape, and to set the element at the same time to the edge of the tape all in one process to form a finished tape.

A further object of the invention is, when making a 3,058,188 Patented Oct. 16, 1952 ice tape, to form one edge of the tape in -two parts so that the core tape may be applied to the front and rear sides of the slide fastener where the fastener element and tape contact each other and the edge of the fastener element may be fastened to the edge of the tape while the element is held between the parts of the edge of the tape, the parts of the edge thereby providing a covering for the fastener element.

A still further object of the invention is, when making a tape, to form the edge of the tape in two parts so that the core tape may be formed with an especially thick warp in order to cover the front and rear sides of the joint between the tape and the fastener element while at the same time the fastener element is secured to the edge of the tape and is held between the parts of the edge of the tape -to provide a cover for the fastener element to conceal the element.

A further object of the invention is to use spiral elements made from a exible and elastic wire of metal, or synthetic resin, or the like, which wire is either coiled continuously in a spiral to form a spiral element or has its shape modified to some extent to form an element capable of functioning identically to the continuous spiral.

Another object of the invention is to provide means not only to smplify the process of manufacturing and to simplify the labor involved therein, but also to raise the eiciency of the operation to a great extent, while the finished product itself is extremely strong, and thus being able to place on the market slide fasteners of great value.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and appended claims, ltaken together with the accompanying drawings.

In order to illustrate the invention clearly, it is noted that the drawings are to some extent exaggerated and enlarged.

Referring now to the drawings;

FIG. l is a plan View of the finished article showin-g the principle of the manufacturng method according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1, with certain parts being omitted to give a clearer understanding of the construction;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 1 and showing the relation between the fastener element and woof when the fastener element is interwoven with the tape;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View similar to FIG. 2 of a slightly modied article of FIG. l taken on the line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the slightly modified article of FIG. 4 taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional View similar to FIG. 3 showing schematically how Ithe tape of FIG. 3 is woven to the coiled element and the supporting tapes;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing schematically how the tape of FIG. 5 is woven to the coiled element and the supporting tapes;

FIG. 8 is a plan view, with a portion broken away, showing a further embodiment of a slide fastener according to the pre-sent invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. l0 is a sectional View similar to FIG. 9 showing an embodiment similar to that of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 11 is a plan view, with a portion broken away, showing a still further embodiment of a slide fastener according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view along line 12-12 of FIG. 1l; and

FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 12 showing an embodiment similar to that of FIGS. 4 vand 5.

` In the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2

a tape 3 with one edge 2 of a fastener element 1 having a plurality of uniformly spaced portions occurring on lthe side thereof adjacent said tapes constituting a warp forming Ia selvage at the edge of the tape 3, the fastener element thereby being secured to the tape. There is also shown the part of the device where the said fastener element and tape are connected to each other, and how the joint between the tape and the fastener element is covered on both the front and rear sides with a core tape 6 (often called a supporting core tape) on which slider slides. The fastener elements 1 here shown are spiral or coiled, a portion of each single spiral lying adjacent the tapes 3.

The fas-tener element 1 and core tape 6 are woven into the edge of the tape 3 simultaneously to form a unitary structure. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 shows a slight modiiication in which two heavy warps of a material of equal strength and quality such as a thick thread are used instead of the core tape 6 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. These warps are outside heavy warps 138a and 13817, and inside heavy warps 138e and 138:1. The thick warps 138 on the front and rear sides of the edge 2 of the tape cover the joint between the fastener element 1 and the edge of the tape 3.

As clearly shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, when making tape 3, the edge of the main tape portion 3a is divided into two tape edge portions a and 10b. The fastening element 1 and core tape 6 are woven into the edge of the tape 3 between the divided two edge portions 10a and 10b' thereby providing a complete covering for the join-t in order that it may not be seen. The edge portions 10a and 10b each extend substantially one half the distance over the width of the adjacent fastener element so that they meet at the center of the fastener element so as to completely cover it.

The manner in which the tape 3 is woven so as to divide the edge of the main tape portion 3a into two parts and simultaneously weave in the core tapes and the fastening element is schematically illustrated in FIG. 6. A weft thread 100 is started on the free edge of the lower tape edge portion 10a and woven so that it passes beneath the warp thread 101 which is adjacent the fastening element 1. The weft thread is then passed over the top ofthe warp thread 102 of the upper tape edge portion 10b and -then Woven to the free edge of the upper tape edge portion 10b and back again so that it comes out from beneath the warp thread 102. From there it is passed beneath the lower core tape 6a and threaded through a loop 1a on the coiled fastening element 1. It is then passed between the core tapes and beneath extra warp thread 103 which lies substantially between the core tapes 6 and on the side thereof toward the tape 3. From there it is passed over the top of the upper core tape 6b and through the loop 1a again. It is once more passed 'between the core tapes 6a and 6b and over the top of the extra warp thread 103. -From there it is woven over and under the warp threads 104 of the tape main portion 3 to the free edge thereof and back again, and -then back along the warp threads of the lower tape edge portion 10a to the point of origin. When it is Woven tightly, the tape edge portions 10a and 10b can be moved over the core tapes 6a and 6b to the position shown in FIG. 3.

If -the weft thread is not to be passed around the core tapes and the loop of the fastening element, it is led from the warp 102 on the upper tape edge portion 10b directly to the warps 104 on the tape main portion 3.

It will of course be understood that it is not necessary that the weft thread 100 come from beneath the warp thread 101 on the lower tape edge portion .10a when it is tobe led to the upper tape edge portion 10b, nor need it come from 4beneath the warp 102 on the upper tape edge portion 10b when it is to be led to the lower core tape 6a. If it passes under the warp 102, it should come out from on top of warp 102 and vice versa. Likewise it is not essential that the weft thread 100 pass through the if loop 1a of the coiled fastening element in the direction shown. It is preferred, however that i-t pass through the loop 1a in the `same direction each time.

In the modification of FIGS. 4 and 5 the core tapes da and 6b have been replaced by two heavy warps, outside heavy warps 138a and 133b, and inside heavy warps 133C and 13861. As in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the coil fastening element 1 and the tape portions 3a, 10a and 10b are Woven together with the heavy warps.

The manner in which the tape main portion 3a is woven together with the warps, the tape edge portions 10a and 10b, and the coiled fastener element is shown in FIG. 7. As in FIG. 5, the weft thread is started on the -free edge of the lower tape edge portion 10a and this portion and the upper tape edge portion 10b are woven as described. However, at the end o-f the weaving of the upper tape edge portion, the weft thread is passed under the outside extra warp thread 103 between the outside heavy warps 13st: and 138e and then around the inside extra warp thread 105. The weft thread is then passed around the outside of the upper outside heavy warp 13817 and then beneath the upper inside heavy warp 133d `and through the loop 1a of the coiled fastening element 1. It is then passed over the upper inside heavy warp 138d and down between lthe inside heavy warps 138e and 138d, around the lower inside heavy warp 138e and again through the loop 1a of the coiled fastener element in the same direction as before. It is then passed between the inside upper and lower heavy warps 138C and 138d and beneath the lower outside heavy warp 1381i and then over the outside extra warp thread 103. The weft thread then passes under the warp thread 101 on the lower ta-pe edge portion 10a and is woven Iback to the starting point.

If the weft thread is not -to be passed around the heavy warps which form the cores or around the loop of the yfastening element, it is led directly from the warp 104 of the tape main portion 3a to the warp 101 on the lower tape edge portion 10a.

As with the embodiment of FIG. 6, it will be understood that it is not necessary that the weft thread 100 come from beneath the warp thread 101 on the lower tape edge portion 10a when it is to be led to the upper tape edge portion 10b, nor need it come from beneath the warp 102 on the upper tape edge portion 10b when it is to be led to the outside and inside extra war-p threads 103 and 10S. lf it passes under the warp 102, it should come out from on top of warp 102, and vice versa. Likewise it is not essential that the weft thread pass through the loop 1a of the coiled `fastening element in the direction shown, although it is preferred that it pass through the loop 1a in the sa-me direction each time.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a modification of the slide fastener according to the present invention in which the fastening elements have a form different from that of IFIGS. l-7. The fastener element 201 is of a metal or synthetic resin or the like, iiexible and elastic wire which is formed of a continuous series of U-shaped parts 201b, the legs 201e of the parts being twisted out of alignment with each other so as to be skew. Joining the ends of the legs 201C on successive parts 20119 are connecting parts 201d which join the U-shaped parts into a continuous coil-like fastener element 201. The manner in which the core tapes are woven into the covering tape is the same as described with reference to FIGS. l-3 and FIG. 6, except that the weft thread is passed over the bottom of the U-shaped parts 201]).

The modification shown in FIG. l0 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 insofar as the fastener element is concerned, and is similar to the modification shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 insofar as the manner in which the heavy warps are woven in with the covering tape. This ligure merely illustrates a combination of features from other embodiments, and consequently a further description is unnecessary.

The modification shown in FIGS. 11 and l2 has a still further form of fastener element. One half of the fastener element 241 is in the form of a coil of individual loops 241a, which -may be made of metal or synthetic resin which is flexible and elastic. 'Ihe other half of the -fastener element 241 is of a similar material and is in the forrn of a iiat band in a series of U-shaped undulations 241C which are of equal size and which have rounded projections 241:1? at the points of the undulations, which rounded projections are engaged between the individual loops 241a of the rst half of the fastener element when the fastener element is closed. The base of each U- shaped undulation 241C forms a portion which is adjacent the tapes.

The manner in which the core tapes are woven into the covering tape is the same as described with reference to FIGS. l-3, except that the weft thread on the tape adjacent the half of the fastener element having the undulating form is passed over the portions at the base of the undulations.

The modification shown in FIG. 13 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1l and l2 insofar as the fastener elements are concerned, and is similar to the modication shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 insofar as the manner in which the heavy warps are Woven in with the covering tape. Since this gure 'merely illustrates a combination of features from other embodiments, a further description is deemed unnecessary.

It is thought that the invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacriiicing its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

I claim:

l. A `side fastener comprising a pair of adjacent tapes, fastener elements along the opposed edges of each of said pair of tapes and having a plurality of uniformly spaced projecting portions projecting toward the opposed edge of the other tape, each of said fastener elements having the projections joined to each other along the edge of the respective tapes, core tapes over both sides of the joints between the fastener elements and said tapes, said tapes each having a tape main portion and on the edge thereof adjacent said core tapes two tape edge portions having one edge woven integrally with said tape main portion, the other edges of said tape edge portion being free and overlying lthe fastener elements and said tape main portion and tape edge portions being interwoven with said core tapes and said fastener elements, and a slider over said core tapes, tape edge portions and fastening elements and slidable on said core tapes and the tape edge portions, the width of said tape edge portions being one half the distance between the adjacent tapes, whereby when said tape edge portions are placed over the fastener elements with the fastener elements on the adjacent tapes in engaged relationship they meet and completely cover the fastener elements.

2. A slide fastener comprising a pair of adjacent tapes having warp and weft threads, interengaging fastener elements along the opposed edges of each of said pair of tapes and having a plurality of uniformly spaced projecting portions projecting toward the opposed edge of the other tape, each of said fastener elements having the projections joined to eac-h other along the edge of the respective tapes, core tapes over kboth sides of the joints between the adjacent tapes and said fastener elements, said tapes each having a tape main portion and on the edge thereof adjacent said core tapes two tape edge portions, the said tape main portions and the tape edge portions having common weft threads joining the tape main portions to one edge of the tape portions, the other edges of the tape edge portions being free and overlying the fastener elements, and at least a portion of said weft threads being interwoven with said core tapes and said uniformly spaced portion of said fastener elements for joining said tapes, said core tapes and said fastener elements, and a slider over said core tapes, tape edge portions and fastening elements and slidable on said core tapes and said tape edge portions of said adjacent tapes, the width of said tape edge portions being one half the distance between the adjacent tapes, whereby when said tape edge portions are placed over the fastener elements with the fastener elements on the adjacent tapes in engaged relationship they meet and completely cover the fastener elements.

3. A slide fastener comprising a pair of adjacent tapes having warp and weft threads, interengaging fastener element along the opposed edges of each of said pair of tapes and having -a plurality of uniformly spaced projecting portions projecting toward the opposed edge of the other tape, each of said fastener elements having the projections joined to each other along the edge of the respective tapes, core tapes over both sides of the joints between the adjacent tapes and said fastener elements, said tapes each having tape main portions and on the edge thereof adjacent said core tapes two tape edge portions, said tape main portions and the tape edge portions having common weft threads, the weft threads extending from at least one of the warp threads on one of the tape portions which is closest to the joint lbetween said adjacent tapes and said fastening element and core tapes, around said core tapes and the uniformly spaced portions of said fastener `elements and lback as warp thread on another tape portion which is adjacent said joint, for inter- Weaving one edge of said tape edge portions and said tape main portions, the other edge of said tape edge portions being free and overlying said fastener elements, and for interweaving said tape portions, said core tapes and said fastener elements, and a slider over said core tapes, tape edge portions and fastening elements and slidable on said cone tapes and said tape edge portions, the width of said tape edge portions being one half the distance between the adjacent tapes, whereby when said tape edge portions are placed over the fastener elements with the fastener elements on the adjacent tapes in engaged relationship they meet and completely cover the fastener elements.

4. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 3 in which said core tapes are each a single core and said slide fastener has at least one extra warp thread substantially between said core tapes on the side thereof toward said adjacent tape, and the weft threads extend from the warp thread on one of said tape portions which is closest to said core tapes around one of said core tapes and around the uniformly spaced portion of said fastener element, between said core tapes and around said extra warp thread and around the other of said core tapes and around said uniformly spaced portion of said fastener element again, and then between said core tapes again and to the warp thread on another of said tape portions which is closest to said joint.

5. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 3 in which said core tapes each consist of a plurality of at least two heavy warps, an inside heavy warp adjacent the fastener element and at least one outside heavy warp adjacent the tape portions, and said slide fastener has at least two extra warp threads, one substantially between said inside heavy warps and one substantially between said outside heavy warps, both extra warp threads being on the side of said heavy warps toward said tape portions, and the weft threads extend from the warp thread on one of said tape portions which is closest to said heavy warps in interwoven relationship with said extra warp threads, around said extra warp thread between said inside heavy warps, back between said outside heavy warps, around one of said outside heavy warps, between the inside heavy warps and around the uniformly spaced portion of said fastener element, around both said inside heavy warps and again around said uniformly spaced portion of said fastener element, between said inside heavy warps and spaanse 7 over the other outside heavy warp, and then around said extra warp between said outside heavy wai-ps and then to the warp thread on another of said tape portions which is closest to said heavy Warps.

6. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 3 in which each fastener element is a generally circular coil of exibie and elastic Wire.

7. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 3 in which each fastener element comprises -a coil having a continuous series of U-shaped parts the legs of which are twisted out of alignment with each other so as to be skew and having the ends thereof joined by connecting parts.

8. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 3 in which one fastener element is -a generally circular coil of exi'ble and elastic Wire and is Woven into the adjacent tape at the 15 2,557,160

parts of thel individual coils which lie closest to the tape, and the other fastener element is a flat band in a series of U-shaped undul-ations having rounded projections at the points of the undulations.

9. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 3 in which each fastener element is a at band in a series of U-shaped undulations having rounded projections at the points of the undulations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,084,499 Newman June 22, 1937 2,504,079 Murphy Apr. ll, 1950 Wahl Sept. 4, 1951 

